[This letter is from] Paul, and Silvanus and Timothy, [and is being sent] to the church of the Thessalonians [Note: This was a town in present-day northeastern Greece] in [fellowship with] God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's unearned favor and peace be upon you.

Being conscious, my brothers, dear to God, that you have been marked out by God's purpose;

since the gospel we preach'd, did not consist only of words, but was fully confirm'd by miracles and gifts of the holy spirit, you yourselves being witnesses, what we did among you and for you.

But also suffering before, being insulted in Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much agony.

we preach the gospel just as God thought fit to intrust it with us, not being studious to please men, but God, who approves our sincerity.

nor seeking of men glory, neither from you nor from others, being able to be burdensome, as Christ's apostles.

Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.

And because of this we also thank God continually that, when you people received the message of God, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as a message from [mere] human beings, but as it truly is, the message from God, which is at work in you believers.

For ye, brethren, were imitators of the churches of God being in Judea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things by your own race, as they also by the Jews:

who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, also driving us out and they do not please God and being contrary to all men,

But we, my brothers, being away from you for a short time, in body but not in heart, had all the more desire to see your face;

Therefore, when we could no longer endure our separation [from you], we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens,

to prevent anyone being disturbed by these troubles. (Troubles are our lot, you know that well;

not being able therefore to wait any longer, I sent Timothy to know the state of your faith, for fear the tempter should have seduc'd you, and all our labour have prov'd abortive.

But now Timothy being come back to us from you, and having brought us good tidings concerning your faith and love, and that ye have always a good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we indeed do to see you;

And that you may take pride in being quiet and doing your business, working with your hands as we gave you orders;

so that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting].

For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we the living being left at the arrival of the Lord shall not get beforehand with them having slept.

Then we the living being left shall be snatched up together with them in the clouds, to the meeting of the Lord in the air: and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night.

But we, being of the day, should be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet, the hope of salvation.

And we ask you, brethren, to know those being fatigued among you, and set over you in the Lord, and reminding you;

May God Himself, who gave you peace, consecrate your whole being. May you be safely kept, spirit, soul, and body, so as to be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back.